The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) has become the latest conference to diversify the esports culture, announcing a partnership with Blaze Fire Games to create academic and career pathway opportunities in the fields of technology and gaming.
As part of the agreement, Blaze Fire Games will be launching a MEAC esports league.
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) celebrates its 50th year of intercollegiate competition with the 2020-21 academic school year. Located in Norfolk, Va., the MEAC is made up of 11 outstanding historically black institutions across the Atlantic coastline: Bethune-Cookman University, Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Florida A&M University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University and South Carolina State University.
MEAC announces esports partnership with Blaze Fire Games https://t.co/Q9uiknt661
— HBCU Sports (@HBCUSports) July 9, 2020
Blaze Fire Games engages in cross-cultural experiences by offering entertainment events in the esports industry, to include education career pathway certifications, a multi-player team league and individual player competitive esports tournaments.
Since 2016, over 130 colleges and universities have started Esport teams and/or academic programs. In three years, over $16 million dollars were awarded in scholarships. Unfortunately, Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) have been late to the party and unable to capitalize on the financial come up — until now.
Back in April, we wrote a piece entitled, “Hampton & JCSU Are Trailblazing HBCUs’ Esports Arrival”
The entrance into esports for these schools was the first proof that HBCU’s would become a major player in esports and start to benefit from the exploding growth of the industry.
“As esports becomes increasingly viable from a financial and cultural standpoint, we are ecstatic that the MEAC can partner with Blaze Fire Games to expand digital access and educational opportunities,” MEAC Commissioner Dennis Thomas said. “The future is here, and it is vital to the MEAC to be a part of esports moving forward.”
Online tournaments will be hosted through Blaze Fire Games, and participants will battle against each other in games such as Rocket League, NBA2K, Madden and Super Smash Bros. These opportunities are available to all 11 MEAC member institutions, and any current student, alum or university staff member can participate.
“The MEAC has a long, storied history when it comes to forward thinking and innovation,” Blaze Fire Games CEO and co-founder Isiah Reese said. “There was a huge opportunity to partner, introduce and insert the Blaze Fire Games esports program and resources in the states of South Carolina, Virginia, Florida, Maryland and North Carolina, as well as Washington, D.C., at one time. There’s really no time like the present to focus on this esports industry because of these changing times we are living in due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Visit Blaze Fire Games at www.blazefiregames.com.
